Ambulatory wheel.



N0.'s5e.2s9. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

- r w. T. JONES.

AMBULATORY WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905.

WILLIAM T. JONES, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

AMBULATORY WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed November 23,1905. Serial No. 288,658.

worth and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Ambulatory Wheels for Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ambulatory wheels, in which acentral stationary axle having a fixed stationary cam, a central hub, orcasing adapted to revolve on the axle, and a certain number of legs, theends of which are adapted to roll underneath and in contact with thecam, and slides in the casing, and certain shoes loosely connected tothe opposite ends of said legs-are used, all automatically operating inconsecutive order.

The objects of my invention are first, to provide an ambulatory wheelspecially adapted for portable engines and vehicles of various kinds,second, to provide an ambulatory wheel with rolling and slidable legs,and shoes connected thereto, which shall automatically adapt themselvesto level and to uneven ground, third, to provide resilient means fortensioning the legs, to retain the same in proper and relative positionone with the other, and with a tendency to position the inner end of thelegs to roll underneath and in contact with the cam of the axle, fourth,to afford facilities for the adjustment of the legs to position in thecentral casing, and for the retaining of the same, yet with freedom ofaction and ambulatory power, and fifth, to reduce the power which isrequi site to propel the wheel, and to obtain a more perfect traction. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ambulatory wheel,showing the central hollow tube, or casing, the centrally located axlecam, the inner ends of the legs in contact with the under-side of thecam, and the radially extending guide seats for the legs, the cover ofthe casing, and the covers of the guide seats being removed. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation through the central part of Fig. 1 of the drawingwith the casing cover secured thereon, and as viewed from the left-handend of said Fig. 1 of the drawing. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of twolegs, in vertical position and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Fig. iis a side elevation of a detached pivotal bracket of a hinged foot. Fig.5 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of adetached hingedfoot plate. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the same. Fig.8 is a side elevation of a cover for the guide seatings of the legs, andFig. 9 is a detail elevation and modification of a leg seating showingthe leg rollers adapted to roll in recesses in the seating andindependently of the bolts which fasten the seating cover.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

In the drawing, the stationary axle of a portable engine B, and thelike, is indicated by A, and O is a cam, or hip, which forms a part ofthe axle A, and above the center of the axle and rigid therewith. Thecam O is of suitable shape and design to answer the purpose intended.

D, is the hollow circular hub, or casing, for the ambulatory legs, andis adapted to revolve on the axle A. The casing D, has an outer annularflange 5 to which is bolted and secured an outer cover 6. A number ofradial guide seats 7, extend from the casing D, in diamet- 1 rical formand order, and in pairs, each pair being on the same plane and line, anddiametrically opposite to each other. To more fully and to betterdescribe the eight rollableand slidable legs, and the eight leg guideseats, as shown, I deem it expedient to indicate the first or inner pairof legs 1 and 1, which are shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing in horizontaland diametrical line, and on the same plane and exactly opposite to eachother. The next in order and similar pair of opposite legs are indicatedby 2, and 2; the next in order and similar pair of opposite legs by 3and 3; and the next in order and outer similar pair of opposite legs, by4 and 4. The outer legs 4 and 4 are shown in vertical position in Figs.1 and 2 of the drawing and are diametrically opposite to each other, andon the same plane.

The guide seatings 7, which extend diametrically from the casing D, andform a part of the casing, are in pairs and the planes of each pairconform with each pair of opposite legs. The inner ends of the legs inthe casing D, extend side Wise, and are of suitable curve and form 10 toroll underneath the cam O, which is intended to be of suitable form andshape to carry the vehicle at the same distance from the ground when inoperation.

The sides of the legs in the casing are in contact with each other, thatis, the inner I side of the legs 4 and 4, contact with the outer sidesof the legs 3, and 3, the inner sides of the legs 3 and 3, contact withthe outer sides of the legs 2 and 2, the inner sides of the legs 2, and2, contact with the outer sides of the legs 1 and 1. The inner sides ofall the legs engage with the seating 7. The depth of each seating 7 isthe same as the thickness, or depth of the legs, all being similar,therefore, the outer sides of the legs are flush with the outer sides.of the seatings. The cover 6, covers the casing D, and is bolted to theflange 5, of the casing, and extends to the ends of the opposite seatins 7, which contain the opposite and vertical lbgs 4. The cover 6, "fitssnugly to the legs 4 and also on the front sides of the opposite seats7. The legs 1, 2 and 3, are also held in their seats by means of lessercovers E, which extendfrom the circular body part of the casing D, tothe outer ends of the six seatings 7. All the seatings 7, have bolts 8,which bolt the covers 6, and E, to the seatings, and the cover 6 issecured to the casing. The seatings 7, are provided with rollers R, onthe bolts 8, or may run loosely in recesses 18 in the sides of the Wallsof the seatings, and are adapted to roll against the edges of the legs,and revolve in their recesses or on the bolts 8, when the wheel isambling along. It will be noticed in Fig. 1 of the drawing that thedistance between the side walls of the seatings 7 is greater than thewidth of the legs, in order to allow the rollers R to roll against thelegs to avoid friction when in operation thereby allowing a free andeasy radial sliding motion to the legs.

The outer ends of the legs are side wise extended, and are of suitablecurve 12 to roll on the pivotal ankle brackets F, having lugs 13 whichare loosely pivoted to the outer ends of the legs at 14. The lugs 13have slotted holes 15, to allow sufficient play of the brackets F, onthe ends of the legs when the wheel is ambling, or walking. The hingedfeet H, of the legs, have lugs 17, and the lower plate part of thebrackets F, have lugs 16, which fit between the lugs 17, of the feet H,and hinge thereto, to allow suflicient play to the feet H, in order thatthe feet H, and the ankle brackets F, may have perfect freedom of actionwith the legs and with each other and may be termed. a pivotal shoe onthe outer end of each leg. The underside, or bottom of the foot H, hasbold ribs or corrugations 20 to present a substantial bearing and roughgrip, or hold, to prevent the foot from slipping on the ground J. Theambulatory wheel may walk in either direction. The outer ends of thelegs are provided with suitable headed studs S secured thereto, and projecting out a suitable distance therefrom to allow a continuous steelband, or cable, around the studs, or around sheaves, or rollers 19 onthe studs, as the case may be, and

to form a continuous endless loop T, adapted to operate loosely on saidstuds or rollers. The heads of the studs will retain the band T inposition on the studs, and at the same time allow the band to changeposition when the legs are ambulating. The endless loop T is taut andbrings all the legs in touch with one part of the cam (l, and provides acertain stability and proper retaining tension to the legs, by theinherent resiliency of the band T.

It will be seen that the weight of the ve hicle is sustained by the camO which in turn is supported by the leg which rests upon the shoe uponthe ground. Now it is evident that if thevehicle is propelled in eitherdirection it will carry the cam with it, and the leg upon which the camrests will rock in the direction in which the cam moves. This mo tion ofthe leg will revolve the case and carry the succeeding leg into positionto receive the weight of the load upon the cam when the first leg willbe relieved and raised up from the ground as the case rotates. tion willbe repeated as each leg comes into position under the cam as long as thevehicle continues in motion.

The operation of the ambulatory wheel is as follows: When the wheel asshown in Fig.

1 of the drawing is traveling in direction to.

Ward the right hand as indicated by arrows, and ropelled by means of thestationary axle X, which is also traveling in the same direction, thelegs 1, 2, 3 and 4, commence to exert themselves for walking, as all thelegs are united together by means of the band T, and when one leg isaffected by the ground J, then all are affected by the sensitiveness ofthe legs. When the lower leg 4, is leaving the ground the next leg 2 iscoming in contact with the ground, then the next leg 1, and so on insuccession and in consecutive order. The curved ends 10 of the legs arealways in contact with the roll against one part of the cam C, therebypreventing any rattling of the wheel when ambulating.

The wheel may travel in either direction, and it is intended that theambulatory wheel shall take the place of ordinary road circular wheels,to a certain extent, especially where more power is required, whendrawing heavy loads.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ambulatory wheel, a stationary axle, a cam on the end of theaxle, a casing, capable of revolving on said axle and around said cam,radial legs in the casing and extending through the same and adapted toslide therein, the ends of the legs curved and in contact with the cam,resilient means on the legs to produce said contact, and shoes looselyconnected to the opposite ends of the 2. In an ambulatory tractionwheel, the combination with legs having curved end This operafaces, offeet having a loose connection with the legs and on which the curved endfaces bear.

3. In an ambulatory wheel, a stationary axle, a cam on the axle, acasing adapted to revolve on the axle, slidable legs in the casing andextending through the casing; radial seatings on the casing to supportthe legs, rollers in the seatings in contact with the legs, the innerends of the legs in contact with the cam, nieanson the legs to producesaid contact, and covers on the casing and seatings to confine the legs.

4. In an ambulatory traction Wheel, the combination with legs havingcurved end faces, of ankle brackets loosely connected to the legs and onwhich the curved end faces bear, and feet hinged to the ankle brackets.

5. In an ambulatory traction wheel, the combination with a cam havingflattened upper and lower surfaces and curved ends, of a rotary casinghaving leg-guides, and legs slidable in the leg-guides and provided withcurved rocker ends bearing on said earn.

6. In an ambulatory traction wheel, the combination with a cam, of arotary casing having leg-guid es, legs slidable in the legguides andprovided with curved rocker ends bearing on said cam, and a tautflexible connection between all of the legs. 1

7. In a wheel for a vehicle, an outer casing adapted to revolve, radiallegs adapted to slide in and beyond the casing, a cam on the vehicle,curves on the ends of the legs to roll against the cam, studs on thelegs, sheaves on the studs, and a band around the sheaves to contact thelegs with the cam.

WILLIAM T. JONES.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HENDRY, D. DAY SMITH.

